Object Snaps (Osnaps) Made Simple — A Complete Beginner’s Guide

What Are Object Snaps?

Object Snaps, or Osnaps, help you select precise points on objects in your drawing — such as the end of a line, the center of a circle, or the midpoint of an arc. Rather than clicking by eye, Osnaps allow your cursor to snap to these key points so you can draw accurately, efficiently, and confidently.

Why Use Osnaps?

• Precision: Every line starts and ends exactly where it should.
• Efficiency: No need to zoom in to guess positions.
• Ease of Use: The software does the thinking for you.

Descriptive Table of Common Osnaps

How to Activate and Use Osnaps

Turn Osnaps ON or OFF

• Press F3 on your keyboard
• Or click the Object Snap button in the status bar (bottom of screen) — it should be blue when active

Choose Which Osnaps to Use

• Type OSNAP or OS and press Enter
• The Drafting Settings window will appear
• Check the boxes for the Osnaps you want (e.g., Endpoint, Midpoint, Center)
• You can also right-click the Osnap icon in the status bar and choose Settings

Use Osnap Overrides

Need a specific snap just once?

• Hold Shift + Right-Click
• A menu of Osnaps will appear
• Choose the one you want for this one-time selection

Cycle Between Nearby Snaps

If you see multiple Osnap points:

• Press TAB to switch between them
• The highlighted snap will change

Type Shortcuts During Commands

When prompted to select a point, type:

• END for Endpoint
• MID for Midpoint
• CEN for Center

Practical Example: Drawing a Simple Room

Let’s draw a rectangle with Osnaps:

1. Start with LINE Type LINE, click your first point
2. Snap to Endpoint Move to the end of the previous line, wait for the Endpoint icon, then click
3. Snap Perpendicular Use Shift + Right-Click > Perpendicular to draw a perfect right angle
4. Complete the Room Use Endpoint snaps to close the shape
5. Add a Door Use the Midpoint snap to find the middle of a wall and draw your door

Advanced Osnap Features

Osnap Tracking

• Hover over a snap point until a marker appears
• Move your cursor away and follow the dotted alignment line
• Place new geometry perfectly aligned without drawing helper lines

Temporary Overrides

• Use Shift + Right-Click during any command
• Pick a different snap for one click without changing your defaults

Object Snap Cycling

• Press TAB when multiple Osnaps overlap
• Keeps you from snapping to the wrong point

Customize Your Running Osnaps

• Only enable the Osnaps you use regularly
• This keeps your cursor from picking the wrong snap in crowded drawings

Keyboard Shortcuts Recap

Tips for Better Snapping

• Zoom in before clicking — precision is easier when you’re closer
• Use fewer active snaps to reduce confusion
• Practice with Override and TAB cycling to gain speed
• Make a cheat sheet of icons and print it if you’re just starting

Troubleshooting: Osnaps Not Working?

Working with Other Tools

• Grid Snap: Useful for layout, not precision — use Osnaps for accuracy
• Polar Tracking: Keeps angles correct; combine with Osnaps for perfect lines
• Dynamic Input: Displays values at your cursor; works smoothly with Osnaps
• Copy / Move / Rotate: Use Osnaps to start and end precisely
• Trim / Extend: Select exact intersection points using Osnaps

Mobile and Web App Notes

• Osnaps exist on mobile and web versions
• You may need to tap icons instead of using the keyboard
• Look in the app’s tool panel or snapping settings

Glossary for Beginners

Final Thoughts: Mastering Osnaps

Mastering Object Snaps means mastering accuracy.

It’s the secret behind perfect CAD drawings. Start small, turn on just a few snaps, and get used to what each icon looks like. Soon, snapping to the right point will feel automatic — and your drawings will look better because of it.

Practice makes perfect. Snap with confidence!